CVE-2025-20323 in Splunk
Summary
by MITRE • 07/07/2025
In Splunk Enterprise versions below 9.4.3, 9.3.5, 9.2.7, and 9.1.10, a low-privileged user that does not hold the "admin" or "power" Splunk roles could turn off the scheduled search `Bucket Copy Trigger` within the Splunk Archiver application. This is because of missing access controls in the saved searches for this app.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/21/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2025-20323 represents a critical access control flaw within Splunk Enterprise that undermines the security posture of organizations relying on the platform for log management and analytics. This issue affects multiple versions of Splunk Enterprise including 9.4.3, 9.3.5, 9.2.7, and 9.1.10, indicating a widespread problem that has persisted across several release branches. The flaw specifically targets the Splunk Archiver application's `Bucket Copy Trigger` scheduled search functionality, which serves as a critical component for data archiving and storage management within the platform.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from inadequate access controls implemented within the saved searches of the Splunk Archiver application. Under normal circumstances, the `Bucket Copy Trigger` scheduled search should only be executable by users possessing elevated privileges such as the "admin" or "power" roles. However, the missing access controls allow low-privileged users to manipulate this critical scheduled search by simply turning it off. This represents a direct violation of the principle of least privilege and demonstrates a failure in the application's authorization mechanisms. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-284, which specifically addresses "Improper Access Control" in software systems, where the system fails to properly enforce access restrictions on resources.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple administrative disruption to potentially compromise the integrity and availability of the entire Splunk deployment. When a low-privileged user can disable the `Bucket Copy Trigger`, they effectively disable a critical data archiving mechanism that ensures proper data lifecycle management and storage optimization. This could lead to uncontrolled data growth, performance degradation, and potential data loss scenarios. The attack surface is particularly concerning because it allows attackers with minimal privileges to disrupt core platform functionality, potentially causing cascading failures in log processing and analysis workflows. From an attacker's perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1484.001, which covers "Create or Modify System Process: Windows Service," as the ability to disable critical scheduled searches effectively compromises system integrity and availability.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigations to protect their Splunk environments. The primary recommendation involves upgrading to the patched versions of Splunk Enterprise that address this access control issue. Additionally, administrators should review and tighten access controls for all scheduled searches within the Splunk Archiver application, ensuring that only users with proper authorization can modify these critical components. Network segmentation and monitoring of administrative activities should also be enhanced to detect unauthorized attempts to modify scheduled searches. The vulnerability highlights the importance of regular security assessments and access control reviews, particularly for applications that handle critical data management functions within enterprise environments.